Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-02-18
T03tVS SILVER MINE.

josiah 6toktr, holding 0onveI IN ton
over the fenoe with his next door neigh.
Dor suddenly looked up the 70 I'd and
exclaimed
"Who on eArthi"
A little old man with . hugo valise
Was coming down 1t.
Hes coming straight he.e," said
Rufus Biseel.
The old man came on slowly; paused
before ths neighbors, oct down his valiss
and searched their faces with sharp,
good humored eyes.
..'Don't you know me boys?" he
asked.
The "boys" looked puzzled.
"MAkes me think Of Joel Tobey, I de
clare for ill., said Mr.. 5toker.
Just what l was thinking" said
Mr.. Biisel.
"A man that used to keep store here, ~
Mr.. Stoker explained. ''Bisssl and ]
Ave years ago, IL waA He went West."
with = chuckle. swell, he's come
baoki"
There was . chorus Of excl anna tions
and Q hearty hand.shaking.
'Of course you'll put ap with me?''
said stoker, Hospitality. "My wife.
Sarah Burt, that was, she'll be glad TO
give you bed"
"You'll be more than welcome ct M y
house." said Mr.. Bissel beam ingly.
"Im calculating 10 stay Q week, -
said the old man. "I'lldivide It up be
tween You. can't spare more than q
week-cAn't leave my business q mo-
ment longer"
swell, begin with me-" said Mr.
stoker. cordially dragging him toward
the house.
A pretty dark-eyed girl opened the
door.
my daughter Jenny" said Mr..
s:oker proudly. ''And my wife," he
added Indicating the motherly woman
advancing 70 meet chem.
There were Two chairs by the Are and
pitcher OF cider In the cupboard.
"Things have gone along pretty slow
with Bissel and me-" said Mr.. Btoker,
wiping his mouth and leaning forward
to poke the Goals. "Ws've lived along
side Of each other for 25 years without
anything happening to speak OF. Just
now, to be sure, we're rather looking
for something. Bissel's son Wallace
has come home from college lately, and
he and my girl there have taken reg
ular shine to each other. No telling
Mhat'll come OF 1t. And how's the
West?"
The mans facs grew animated.
"Well," he said, complacently, "eil.
yer INNINGS rather more paying than
bookkeeping"
"silver mining?" said Mr.. stoker, la
an awe.struck toue.
"Exactl, |" responded his guest. 81
have been at 1t for years, Stokei; and
I've made my pile l could buy up this
town and fifty like mr.
GOOD gracious, Tobsy!" gasped his
hearer.
And he sat In open. mouthed wonder
ARlow, described bis mine and the
mann r in which he had "struck.
"There's one thing that troubles mo
considerable" Tobey concluded, 1T
hain't q relative In the world, Stoker-
not onel And the question Ia, what Ia
going to become OF my money? 1t wor.
ries mo-"
"You don't say SOP" said Mr.. Stoker,
In most sympathetic manner.
There was . pause.
See here, 6toker," said the old man,
bringing his fst down on the table sud
denly, you're as good friend ss I've
got. knew you when You was boy,
Stoker. See here, why shouldn't you
have the money!"
Mr.. Stoker, having no satisfactory
reason ct hand, was silent.
"It's o . bsrgain," said Tobey, with
energy. 'You are the man, Stoker. l
feel Il. You're deserving Of 1t. Stoker.
and you shall have 1t. No. you need
not say o word. 1 have made up my
mind"
Toby drained his mug with benevo.
lent smile.
When Mr.. Bissel came over that
evening-his con Wallace had arrived
o full hour before, and was talking to
Jenny Btoker In . corner-he noted q
change in his friend and neighbor. MT.
Stoker was OF cited. He paced the
room restlessly while Tobey and Mr..
Bissel talked over old times by the fire;
and the few remarks he addressed TO |
the latter were vaguely patroniztng.
Mr.. Bissel was puzzled; but he went
home without discovering . clue to the
mystery, leaving Wallace still absorbed
In pretty Jennie Stoker.
The old man came down stairs next 1
morning with his big valiss humping ]
after him.
"ThouQht I'd give Blssel Q turn to-
day." he explained. "And see here,
Stoksr." he added, ccnfldentiaily, I'll
wouldn't say anything to Bissel, II II
was In your place, about that little
nIan Of mine: It might make hard feel